i would expect the vendors would make you buy new hardware instead of spending the money and effort to make win 9 work on their old hardware and then giving it to you as an update

would enough people even want to buy it to make it worthwhile for them?
i dont see it happening
and even if it did could you get all the right drivers and app versions etc
i would not attempt it even if they offered it

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Will the forthcoming Windows 9 be able to be downloaded and installed over a current PC (laptop) running Windows 8.1, or will we have to buy a new computer pre-loaded?

If Windows 9 puts us back on that awful start menu, it's a 20 foot pole for me.

Yes, it's not possible to go back to whatever the situation was, is it, since Windows 8 did change things, for good or bad. In order not to alienate anyone, Windows 9 should probably make all the relevant options available, but in a configurable way. I am quite happy with the metro side of things and the start screen, so I wouldn't like to see it go away. I am also doing fine without the Start button, so yes, if the goal is to bring it back, it's best to allow all those that prefer not to use it to have that possibility, as well.

I installed the button for a couple friends, and it feels really weird to use the Start button in Windows 8, when they need any help. It's way easier to just hit the Windows key and type to get the program you want.

If Windows 9 puts us back on that awful start menu, it's a 20 foot pole for me.

I think the start screen will still be there, except maybe not in the Enterprise version; but what will you do if the start menu can be configured to become the Start screen? I'll be sticking strictly to little tight quick menus but that might be a nice adaptation option.

I hope the removal of the vestigial Charms bar means full Snap capabilities or even pinnable toolbars are coming back as well.

One thing everyone should understand, was that it was never about the lack of the start button. For me, the main issue is that MS is no longer a consumer-oriented company. Instead, their main idea is to shove what THEY feel is right, into the throats of us consumers. Okay, I know some of you are going to argue that MS was NEVER a consumer-oriented company; yeah well, I've heard all the arguments from both sides of the fences. But the fact is that, Micro$oft DOES need consumers. And, the main thing we consumers are berating about, is the lack of choices.

Take a look at XP for example. Sure, MS has come a far way from XP, but not necessarily a good way. At the time XP was introduced, it had a brand new Start menu. Though it looked almost similar to the Win 98 or ME Start menu, but with a few obvious changes, it offered us a choice of picking either the new XP-style menu or the oldie-goldie Win 98-style menu. And, I'm sure that NONE complained about the XP menu. Why? Because we had a choice of changing it. Is it that hard for Win 8 to offer a choice? What, did someone over there forget the code for the Start menu?

It's kind of shameful that we have to pay money to gain back a simple capability, a capability that every single version of Windows upwards of Windows 95 has ever had, but apparently, isn't included in Micro$oft's shiny new OS.

And why? Because MS considers us regular Joes obsolete. And that hurts.

One thing everyone should understand, was that it was never about the lack of the start button. For me, the main issue is that MS is no longer a consumer-oriented company. Instead, their main idea is to shove what THEY feel is right, into the throats of us consumers. Okay, I know some of you are going to argue that MS was NEVER a consumer-oriented company; yeah well, I've heard all the arguments from both sides of the fences. But the fact is that, Micro$oft DOES need consumers. And, the main thing we consumers are berating about, is the lack of choices.

Take a look at XP for example. Sure, MS has come a far way from XP, but not necessarily a good way. At the time XP was introduced, it had a brand new Start menu. Though it looked almost similar to the Win 98 or ME Start menu, but with a few obvious changes, it offered us a choice of picking either the new XP-style menu or the oldie-goldie Win 98-style menu. And, I'm sure that NONE complained about the XP menu. Why? Because we had a choice of changing it. Is it that hard for Win 8 to offer a choice? What, did someone over there forget the code for the Start menu?

It's kind of shameful that we have to pay money to gain back a simple capability, a capability that every single version of Windows upwards of Windows 95 has ever had, but apparently, isn't included in Micro$oft's shiny new OS.

And why? Because MS considers us regular Joes obsolete. And that hurts.

I actually disagree with your point of view. I don't think the issue is not MS considering regular users obsolete, as much as it was a mistake thinking users would adhere to the touch centric interface they designed and force that touch centric interface on users, without other options, with the goal to entice developers to build apps to the new operating system.

Couple that with an arrogant, not willing to listen to feedback, leadership in charge of Windows development and that lead to the current state of affairs.

That's true Rui. And whatever arguments we may make, I think we can agree on one thing: Not everyone can afford a touch-screen desktop. And not ALL work can be accomplished on a touch-screen. Some users, like those in the audio and video industry, need desktops and mice for their livelihood. A finger just doesn't give that level of precision or control as a mouse pointer. For a company that's been designing OSes for around 3 decades now, it's sad MS is blind to this.

If Windows can figure out which part of the screen I touch, if Windows knows where to place its buttons and hot-corners, and if Windows knows that the place I tapped or clicked on was one of it's hot corners or buttons, then WHY can't Windows figure out when I'm using a friggin' mouse and just show me a friggin' Start menu, so I can finish my friggin' work and get on with my friggin' life?

People always said Windows was touch-unfriendly. Never thought it'd become mouse-unfriendly.

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end RANT.

Last edited by KritzX; 2014-08-08 at 15:14.
Reason: 3 decades not 30 :P